Edible flowers in the kitchen garden

Florals for spring? There’s something truly delightful about seeing edible flowers adorning dishes, so we couldn’t resist diving into the world of these decorative delights. Whether you’re looking to add a pop of colour to a dish or introduce exciting new flavors to budding chefs, edible flowers provide endless possibilities that encourage children to get creative, try new flavours and think outside the box.

Which flowers are edible?

We wouldn’t recommend munching the first flower you see, as sadly, not all of them are tasty (or even safe to eat). Familiarise yourself with our list below and ensure any blooms you pick for plating are homegrown, organic and unsprayed.  

Here are some of our favourite edible flowers in the kitchen garden:

• Basil blooms
• Borage
• Calendula
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Mint
• Marigolds
• Nasturtium
• Native violets
• Rosemary flowers

How to use edible flowers

Edible flowers can make a delightful garnish, adding a touch of springtime to any dish. Sprinkle petals on a salad or delicately place a whole flower as a finishing touch on a sweet treat. 

These pretty petals aren’t just for show! Each edible flower has its own distinct taste and scent. For example, nasturtiums are peppery, violets and pansies are mild and floral, and basil blooms are fruity and fragrant. If you’re using a mix of different flowers, taste them first to see if they complement each other.

Recipes to try

We have two beautiful recipes in our Kitchen Garden Month Recipe Collection, that make use of edible flowers. You'll find Tea Pea Cake by Hayley McKee and Green Garden Soup by Warndu. 

Kitchen Garden Month Recipe Collection

Here are some more delicious ways to make the most of edible flowers in the kitchen.  

1. Floral ice cubes

Add a special touch to a tall glass of juice or water with floral ice cubes. Simple to make and stunning to look at! If you have no flowers in the garden, take inspiration from St Justin's Primary School in Victoria who used mint leaves for a cool, crisp flavour. 

2. Sensational salads

Level up your salad game by mixing fresh petals through your green leaves and dressings. How stunning is this salad made by Repton Public School in New South Wales? When it comes to decoration, let your creativity run wild, just like Gorokan Public School’s Salad of the Imagination. 

3. Sweet treats

Edible flowers make the sweetest accompaniment to desserts, biscuits, cakes and slices. You can use them when plating, like Bondi Public School in New South Wales did with their rhubarb muffins served with rhubarb compote and marigolds. You could also press whole flowers on top of your shortbread biscuit dough, just like Warrnambool East Primary School in Victoria and Junction Park State School in Queensland. Stunning!

Members of our Kitchen Garden Program can discover all the above recipes and more edible flower inspiration on our online resource library and community hub, The Shared Table. Click here to learn more about becoming a member or email membership@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au.